copd

about 6 months ago I started working at a Animal Hosptial. After being there for 3 months I started having alot of post nasal drip and mucus. At times I would feel like I was short of breath and would end up in a panic attack. I went to ER and had chest xrays plus bloodwork done and everything came back just fine. finally got into a doctor around September and she is saying I have COPD. Put me in Spiriva and pulmicort. Also at the Er I was told I had Gerd and allergy induced asthma. I am not sure what I have anymore. The spiriva and Pulicort doesn't seem to help the mucus problem at all. However I take a dose of maylox about 2 hours after I eat a meal and it does seem to help. I notice the mucus problem more after I eat a meal. My main problem is the mucus. I guess my question is does this seem like COPD? I don't want to be taking medicine for something I don't have. I was told twice at Er that I had allergy induced asthma and once I had Gerd. Does Spiriva and Pulmicort help asthma too?

[National Jewish Health]

Allergy to laboratory animal dander or saliva is common.  You may not be able to continue with this type of work.  If you are a long time smoker, you could have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but that would have nothing to do with your work at the hospital.  You could also have asthma and it could be related to the exposures.  The Spiriva® HandiHaler® (tiotropium bromide inhalation powder) and Pulmicort Turbuhaler® (budesonide inhalation powder) could help asthma but probably not the mucus originating in your nose and throat.

If you have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), it could aggravate asthma but that too would be unrelated to your work exposure.  It might, however, require different, stronger medication than Maalox®.  Also there are conservative measures to be taken to reduce GERD.  Please read our GERD information at http://www.nationaljewish.org/disease-info/diseases/asthma/about/relate-other/gastro-reflux.aspx to learn more.

[starion]

To find out if you have COPD, you would need to get a lung function test, called a Pulmonary Function Test, have it evaluated and interpreted in connection with your medical history.  This is best done by your regular physician rather than at the ER.

From what you've written so far, it doesn't sound like you've had any breathing test that would indicate COPD.  By the way, if you smoke, quitting smoking is the BEST thing you can do to help your breathing & overall health.
Starion